Isabel Oli, pregnant with her second baby, answered back to body-shaming comments on Instagram.
During the long weekend, Isabel, husband John Prats, and daughter Feather were at the beach for a “babymoon”—a sort of honeymoon for couples before the new baby arrives.
John posted their photos on his Instagram account, showing off Isabel’s pregnant figure in a two-piece bikini and calling his wife “sexy buntis.”
But not long after, netizens started posting their body-shaming comments about Isabel’s body—heavily pregnant at 37 weeks.
Isabel Oli Instagram answer
Isabel decided to take to Instagram to answer the body-shamers.
“My husband posted a preggy photo of mine ‘cause he was happy and he can’t contain his excitement for the arrival of our prince @freedomprats,” she began in her recent Instagram post.
“Little did he know that he would receive such rude, negative, and uncalled-for comments about my pregnancy. Hence, he turned-off the commenting section.
“But to be honest, I didn’t get mad. It just made me sad how some can get so critical and judgmental even if they don’t have the slightest idea about the actual situation.”
While Isabel acknowledged that her baby bump does appear big, she underlined that she was “perfectly fine.”
Isabel continued, “Guys, I’m here to tell you I’m very fine. I’m not sick or whatsoever.
“I’m still within my normal weight range, and as much as I want to work out, my OB doesn’t allow me for numerous reasons.
“Yes, I do have a BIG tummy (you may find the size “abnormal”, but this is how my tummy looks even during my first pregnancy), however, there’s no need for you to be concerned. I’m perfectly fine.”
Isabel then left a message to her bashers.
She wrote, “To my bashers, spread LOVE not hate. I guess the world will truly be a better place, if we all learn to be kind and truly love one another.
“Praying for all of us to feel the love, joy and peace from our Creator.”
Body-shaming
Body shaming has been a prevalent issue in today’s society, and it has become more blatant because of social media. This makes pregnant women more vulnerable to body shaming as society tends to disapprove the idea of women gaining extra weight—even if there’s a tiny human being living inside the bulging tummy.
Weight gain is normal during pregnancy.
According to Pregnancy Birth Baby, “most women gain between 11.5kg and 16 kg.”
This is primarily because of the baby growing inside the womb.
Healthy diet and regular exercise are recommended to maintain a fit physique for the mother and baby, but it is to be done through the advice of the doctor.
Some pregnant women are advised not to engage in strenuous activities for the safety of the baby. Others are told to stay on bed rest, thus restricting physical activities altogether.
Isabel Oli spent most of her second pregnancy on bed rest.
“While having my regular check-up, my OB noticed a pooling of blood surrounding the baby sac which was not a good sign. She advised me to go on bed rest for two weeks,” Isabel wrote in her recent blog entry.
“Despite of that, it didn’t disappear and even got bigger. My doctor recommended me to go on bed rest again for several weeks…
“I envied other mommas who were still able to travel, work, workout, and do other things which I also wish I could do.
“Can’t stop comparing my pregnancy to my first and from other mommas who seemed to be enjoying their uncomplicated pregnancies.
“I simply wanted to delight in being pregnant for the second time. That’s all…”
But as Isabel later realized, she learned that every pregnancy journey was different. She is just happy and contented that the Lord answered her and her husband’s prayer of having a second child after two years of trying to conceive.
Also read: DJ Nicole Hyala pinasaringan ang kaniyang mga bashers!
Photo from: Isabel Oli’s Instagram and Nice Print Photography